In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, there are a wide array of themes. The most important being that of appearance vs. reality. This theme is consistent throughout the play, and spawns the other themes .It also incorporates all the major motifs in the play. The theme is strengthened by the use of symbolism and enables the reader to predict future events in the play. Without the theme of appearance versus reality, the play would lack plot, action, and intrigue, causing readers to lose interest. The major motif of madness in “Hamlet” is created by the theme of appearance vs. reality. Hamlet’s fabricated madness is the cause of a major part of the action in the play. Of course, none would be possible if it had not been for Hamlet’s decision to act as he did. In other words, he essentially pretends he is insane so that he can accomplish what he feels needs to be done. The first example of appearance vs. reality is seen in King Claudius, who is not a righteous king at all. He is the one who killed king Hamlet, but that is not the appearance that he attempts to portray. This is made known to Hamlet as the ghost tells him, “A serpent stung me…the serpent that did sting thy father’s life, now wears the crown.” The ghost reveals to Hamlet that he is the ghost of his father, and this is when Hamlet decides to plan out his revenge by acting as if he is insane. “How strange or odd some’er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on,” (Act 1 scene 5). Clearly the theme of appearance vs. reality can be seen here which proves that the major action is carried out through this theme. Without it, the play would be as any other story in the sense that the protagonist takes quick, immediate action. Rather, Hamlet, who is considered by many to be a great character, is a character that is intellectual while able to maintain a feigned madness. In fact, other criticisms question whether Hamlet was actually mad or not. Such contentions were built...

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...avenged, which lead to many deaths. The play revolves around the theme of “Appearancevs. Reality” because of the ways characters try to hide their true intent and how the characters use deception by spying and plotting on each other.
A way Hamlet revolves around the theme of “Appearancevs. Reality” because of the way characters hide their true intent. In Act III scene I, Polonius was talking about Hamlet’s love for Ophelia when he says, “We are oft to blame in this/‘Tis too much proved- that with devotion’s visage/And pious action/we do sugar o’er/The devil himself” (3.1.52-55). After Polonius gives Ophelia the prayer book to pretend to read it, Polonius reflects to Claudius about how often people who appear innocent are trying to hide their new intentions. This leads Claudius to talk to himself, “O, tis too true./ How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience./ The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art,/ Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it/ Than is my deed to my most painted word./ O heavy burden!” (3.1.56-61). Claudius was talking about the duplicity to the readers and how evil he really is. Polonius appears to care about Hamlet’s mental state, but in reality, he is an agent for Claudius and will do anything to make Claudius happy. Claudius admits how he is a murderer, but he cannot change what he has done.
A way Hamlet revolves around the theme...

...In the play "Hamlet," Shakespeare's characters are confronted with the timeless question: How can one determine what is actually true from what only seems to be true? Throughout the play, the theme of appearance versus reality is constant. This theme is played out from the beginning, with Claudius' attempt to conceal his secret intentions; Gertrude and Ophelia masking their own truths, and finally Hamlet, who assumes the role of a madman in order to uncover thereality behind his appearance.
Various characters try to cover their secret intentions with a veneer of a whole other person. One of the most obvious is Claudius. Claudius murdered his brother, the former King Hamlet, in order to become king himself. This murder, which was done in secret, with no one but Claudius knowing that the act was committed by him. Not only is he the King of Denmark, but he is also married to Queen Gertrude, his brother's former wife. These awful crimes have not been punished , and on one knows that Claudius has done this. When Claudius confronts anyone, he must become someone different. He puts on a self-serving, cold, devious mask. Meanwhile , he acts like a caring husband who does his best to ensure that Gertrude stays with him. This helps Claudius to keep Hamlet from trying to take the kingdom and destroy what he has worked so hard to gain. To the end Claudius has different faces. But is Claudius really masking his true character,...

...In William Shakespeare’s 1606 play, Hamlet, the theme of reality versus appearance recurs throughout the play. The play, Hamlet makes references to how things appear versus the truth. Shakespeare’s Hamlet shows how things may not always be as they appear by the death of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost, the difference between feigning madness and real madness, and through the portrayal of a play within a play.
The North American Edition of the Encarta® World English Dictionary states that the word appearance means “the way somebody or something looks or seems to other people or an outward aspect of somebody or something that creates a particular impression.” The American Heritage® dictionary states that the word reality means “the quality or state of being actual or true, the totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence, and that which exists objectively and in fact.” The discrepancy of appearances and reality recur in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
At the beginning of the play, the dilemma of what is real is established. It appeared as though King Hamlet has died from being bitten by a snake. In reality we learn that Claudius had murdered King Hamlet to attain the position of the throne. We learn the truth that King Claudius killed King Hamlet, and that the appearance that King Hamlet was bitten by a snake was false. We...

...One of the most famous and popular authors and script writers is William
Shakespeare. Shakespeare has always been able to create interesting characters
and one of the reasons they are so interesting might be that they are complex
people with their inner selves differing from their outer selves. Are the
characters in Hamlet the same on the inside as they appear to be on the outside?
The characters in William Shakespeare's Hamlet can be studied in a manner
relating toappearance versus reality. Some of these characters are Claudius,
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Hamlet.
One character who enables us to examine the theme of appearance versus
reality is Claudius, the new King of Denmark. In Act One, Scene Two Claudius
acts as though he really cares for his brother and grieves over the elder
Hamlet's death. This is shown in his first speech addressed to his court, "and
that it us befitted/To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom/To be
contracted in one brow of woe" (Shakespeare I22-4). It is shown further on in
the same speech when he says, "our late dear brother's death" (Shakespeare
I219). However, this is not how Claudius truly feels about his brothers death,
for Claudius is the one who murders elder Hamlet. We see the proof of this in
Claudius' soliloquy when he appears to be praying; "O, my offence is rank, it
smells to heaven./It hath...

...In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the main theme of the play is appearance versus reality. The characters within the play appear to be sincere and honourable when in reality they are corrupt and immoral. Many of the characters within the play illustrate this concept. When looking at them from behind a mask they give the impression of a person who is genuine and honest, but in reality they are plagued with lies and despicable behaviour. Four of the main characters that attempt to deceive Hamlet by hiding behind this mask are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Polonius, and King Claudius.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood friends who are not as they appear. They are asked by the King and Gertrude to spy on Hamlet in order to find the reason behind Gertrude’s “too much changed son” (II.ii.36). They give the appearance of being Hamlet’s friend, yet in reality, the pair only came to Elsinore because they were summoned. Surprised by his friends’ unexplained arrival, Hamlet questions what has brought them there. Rosencrantz lies when responding “To visit you my lord, no other occasion” (II.ii.266). Hamlet instantly sees through their lies and insists “you were sent for, and there / is a kind of confession in your looks…I know the good king and / queen have sent for you” (II.ii.273-276). Knowing that his so-called friends are lying about the purpose of their visit,...

...AppearancevsReality
Possibly the best piece of writing ever done by William Shakespeare, Hamlet, is a classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, Brutus falls on his sword, and like them Hamlet dies by getting cut with a poison tipped sword. The theme that remains constant throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Things within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are polluted with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of dishonesty. Four of the main characters that hid behind this mask are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Polonius, and the king Claudius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person who is sincere and true, in reality they are overwhelmed with lies and evil.
Hamlet is spied on many times in the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood friends who when asked by the king, try to find out what is troubling the young prince. Both help to add to the theme by showing their appearance of being Hamlets friends. The pair goes to Hamlet pretending to be his friends when in truth they are only there because the king asked them to find the truth. Hamlet quickly reveals the truth and says, "Were you not sent for/ And there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your...

...When Hamlet’s mother chastises him for his overly intense grief, she asks him why, if death is universal, “Why seems it then so particular with thee”?(1.2.78) He responds, “ ‘Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not ‘seems’ ”(1.2.79). With those words, Hamlet delineates between appearance and reality, a theme that continues throughout the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare. The idea of appearance versus reality defines three characters in particular: Hamlet, Polonius, and Kind Claudius. The paradox of discrepancy between appearance versus reality is that sometimes, to find reality or truth, one has to act fake himself in order to find out the true nature of others. The two characters who use this theme for unjust purposes ultimately fail, but Hamlet is appearing as something he is not only to discover the truth. Even though Hamlet’s tragic death ends the play, he ultimately finds the truth and accomplishes his ultimate purpose, while Polonius and King Claudius could have easily avoided their deaths by remaining loyal and truthful to their loved ones and to themselves.(CHANGE AROUND THIS LAST SENTENCE, I THINK ITS CONFUSING)
King Claudius is perhaps the one who puts on the biggest act out of all these characters. Claudius’s personality is completely false, especially when it comes to his pretended love for Hamlet and the supposed grief he has for his dead brother....

...James 1
Brittany James
Ms. Lagios
ENG 4U1
May 23, 2013
The Masks of Hamlet
“Be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance.” – English Proverb. A recurring theme in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is appearance versus reality. Many characters in the play pretend to be someone they are not, specifically Polonius, Hamlet and Claudius. They appear to be different than their true selves and deceive others for their own personal gain. These characters have two faces; one is the one the present to the public. It is usually that of a noble, kind, and polite person. The second face is how the character is in reality and this face reveals what their true thoughts and feelings are.
Polonius appears to be a loving, caring and honest father. He seems as if he is a man who deeply loves and cares for his son, Laertes. In act one, scene three, Polonius gives his son what seems like heart-felt advice, but in reality it is rehearsed and hollow. The only reason Polonius gave his son this advice was to appear as a good and caring father, not to actually be one:
And borrowing (dulls the) edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
James 2
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee. (Act 1, Sc 3, L...